Bringing an animal on the DCP isn't an easy process, and having a dog down here is a lot like having a child. While most CPs can go out after long shifts, or head to the parks for fun adventures when they're done working, making sure that my dog is cared for is always my first priority. It has, however, been totally medically necessary to have her here with me.
My neurological pain condition has been acting up pretty badly for the past few months and has continued down here. No amount of medication the doctors have prescribed has helped me long-term, so when I'm having a bad pain day, cuddling with the dog is often the most I can do to help the pain. She has also been working to alert me to my medical condition, so she is technically a service dog in training. However, in my apartment complex, she is considered an emotional support animal. Basically, she is allowed everywhere, including the parks - except for Disney College Program property! It can be a little frustrating, but overall we have been able to work it out!
First things first, let me backtrack to the process of bringing an ESA to DCP housing. The link to the paperwork can be found by clicking here. It is a little awkward to fill it out. It is meant for a workplace accommodation, but you have to write it as a housing accommodation. It takes some time to think about the right wording, but I recommend reaching out to your doctor to help. You then have to send the doctor form to your medical provider to fill out. For an ESA, typically a psychologist fills it out for you. However, since my dog is here for my neurological condition, not a psychological one, my neurosurgeon filled it out for me. After that paperwork is done, you fax it over to Disney workplace accommodations.
Within a few days, you should receive a call from housing and they'll ask you a bunch of questions about why you need the ESA, and you basically reiterate what you wrote about on your form. It was a little nerve-wracking to be honest, but it lasted about 5-10 minutes. I had a little discrepancy because my neurosurgeon wrote on my paperwork that I needed the dog 24/7, and I was only requesting to have the dog at home. I would later try to get her approved as a service dog in training, not for work but just to be able to take her around housing property, but that request was denied, despite my doctor's recommendation, since I had originally (6 months earlier) requested that I only have the dog at home. Had I originally requested it though, I likely wouldn't have had a problem getting that request fulfilled.
I should mention that the earlier you begin this process, the better. If you have an ESA or a service animal, you must live in your own apartment. While you lose that roommate bonding experience, and it is really expensive furnishing the entire apartment yourself, it really has been nice having my own place. It has also been really helpful with my medical condition. I can adjust the temperature to what I need, I can set alarms at any time of night to take medications, and if I'm in pain, I don't have to worry about being super quiet so I don't wake up roommates.
Disney recently raised the price for one-bedroom apartments (basically, everyone in medical accommodation housing without directly singling them out, since that would be illegal...). This includes people with allergies and other medical conditions, not just ESAs or service animals. I pay $130 a week, but starting spring 2018, everyone staying on property's rent will be that price or under, and ESAs will be paying $200 a week. I agree that $130 is a low price to have your own apartment, however, that isn't a choice for us. Most of us would happily have roommates!
Part of having an animal in your apartment is agreeing to cage the animal whenever you leave the apartment. This was really difficult for me since I do frequently work 12-hour shifts. However, when I found out that there was no size restriction on the crate as long as there was a top, I found this!
Molly actually really loves it in here, and it is really spacious! While I would love for her to have free reign of the apartment, this will be as good as it will get! I call it her castle. We actually thought about bringing it back to New York with us, but we just couldn't figure out a way for it to fit. I've heard rumors that they are now restricting the dogs to a smaller space unfortunately, so definitely check up on that. It is a shame since that is an awfully long time to cage your dog without someone helping to let him or her out. I personally pay for my dog to go to a dog sitter close to where I worked a few days a month, and it is totally worth it! You may also consider living off-site. Check out "Disney Cast Member Apartment/Roommate Finder" on Facebook for short-term leases. Just proceed with caution, as these people don't necessarily work for Disney, and haven't had background checks like the people in DCP housing.
I hope this information is helpful! For more information and to see an apartment tour, request to join "Disney College Program Emotional Support/Service Animals." There's a bunch of awesome people that are eager to help!
And now for some princess stories!
- In the boutique, we pick one child as our "forever princess," and I found mine this week! Her name was Princess Raquel. Her older sister put the trip together for her, her mom, and brother. They lived in Florida, but neither of the younger children had been to Disney World. Visiting the boutique was a surprise for her and she was so in awe of the experience. She was 10, so she was an older princess, but it didn't matter. We talked about how we both enjoyed painting (she couldn't wait to try paint by number like her fairy godmother in training), and she told me I had "the voice of an angel." When she saw herself in her grand reveal, her reaction was priceless, and when I told her that she was my forever princess, her jaw dropped! She was just so sweet, and I'll never forget that sweet smile!
- I had a princess from Germany recently who cried when she saw herself in the mirror! It was hard to communicate, but I learned some German along the way, and she loved hearing me try to pronounce the words in German. She sang "Let in Go" in German to everyone who I pulled over to listen, and she just wanted to give all the hugs in the world! I know that she'll never forget about this experience, and that is the best feeling in the world.
- I asked a princess what she liked to do when she wasn't in Disney world, like extra-curricular activities and stuff like that. She said, "I like to go home after school, eat Halloween candy and Lays, and watch movies." Enough said.
That's all for now! Thanks for reading!
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